700 Sundays 11/15 Review

[QueenAnne82]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 9:34am

What: 700 Sundays
Who: Billy Crystal
Where: Cadillac Palace Theater, Chicago
When: 11-22 7:30pm

Even with a big name star and my much love for Billy Crystal, I’ll admit I was curious how a single person could hold the audience captive for 3 hours. However, the cleaver blending of pictures, film, video, puns, music and working the stage was not only interesting, it was spellbinding. The lighting was subtle and cleaver and added greatly to the feel of the stage, with particular moments augmented by music or sound effects. Billy knew exactly when he could push the audience’s emotions to make them care about his family, and when he needed to lighten the audience with a laugh… whether cleaver or a slight groaner.

I was struck most by his master of storytelling. After all, that’s pretty much what the show is. And it truly is almost a “lost art”. Billy effortlessly switched between his chain smoking aunt, his mobster neighbor or a geeky childhood version of himself. He managed to turn the mundane everyday details of life into an intriguing tapestry, taking it so far as to demonstrate “I stood here and watched” this or that happen as he worked his stage. To spell it out now sounds boring, but the delivery made it heartfelt and emotional. I often felt the emotion like I had been there in those situations or the hilarity of the ludicrousness of what had happened.

And oh… does he manage to make the everyday so stinking hilarious! His work made me realize how truly funny life can be when you open your eyes enough to notice it. As always Billy’s timing and precision of delivery made the humor that much more rib aching funny. He could have the audience out of tears and into a guffaw in an instant without feeling like they’d be yanked by the collar.

If I were to throw out one slightly negative observation… it would be the distance I felt from the performer. (Not just referring to my balcony seating). With such a small intimate show, I still felt an outsider to Billy’s life. Not that he wasn’t open and honest, in fact just the opposite. However, I was struck several times during the evening that this was simply a master playing his instrument. The music would have been just the same had the artist be performing to an empty room with his eyes closed. It was only at the end when he made an appeal for the victim’s of the Hurricane’s that I felt Billy knew we were there. His timing was precise, almost to a fault. If I could say one critique of this show it would be that Billy allow his material flow and ebb along with the audience instead of running on an independent track.

Overall however, a masterful performer at the peak of his game. If only we could have the next 700 Sundays to listen to his storytelling, we would have a guaranteed a good time.

Updated On: 11/17/05 at 09:34 AM

[QueenAnne82]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 11:50am

Oh... just so people have a heads up... this show is coming to a few more cities... and he mentioned it going to Canada and England as well.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 12:17am

I laughed until I cried, and then I cried. A brillianterformance by Billy Crystal. I thank him for sharing his life with us. We loved it.

(I was pissed at my mother, I will call her in the morning.)